The favicon was introduced as a visual shortcut for a brand or organisation’s website in the form of a 256 pixel (16 x 16) icon that could be inserted into the address bar of a web broswer. This trend of proportion then took a foothold with the advent of social media, and each site requiring a circle or square icon to represent each individual user. As a quirk of the digital world, the below screenshot shows how it can throw three different logos together, from three very different organisations. All are equally appropriate, but seen together it indicates the impact of the favicon and how its necessary reductionism has consequently impacted graphic design.

The Disciples Of Design are a global collective of design academics, practitioners, artists and students. We have one common thread – UCLan in Preston, UK; and one common aim – the creation of an ever evolving visual hub for the sharing of ideas and thoughts.